Number of traffic accidents involving bicycles down

While traffic accidents in general rose by 7% in 2015, those involving bicycles have actually fallen.

According to official figures, this continues a downward trend over the last three years. All this has happened in a period in which the number of commuting cyclists has risen significantly.

Bicycle accidents fell by 16% in 2014 from the previous year, dropping a further 4% in 2015. During the same period the numbers of bicycle commuters has risen by 20% in 2015 and 16% between 2012 and 2014.

The phenomenon known as the ‘safety in numbers effect’, where increased numbers positively affect a driver’s bicycle awareness, seems to be working just as well in Malta as other larger bike friendly cities such as Antwerp, Portland and Copenhagen.

“That’s a good thing because it helps more people to make the switch, creating more space on our roads for everyone else. Reducing congestion, pollution and making the nation fitter and healthier,” the Bicycle Advocacy Group said.

While people out on bikes continue to help in raising awareness, the collective work of groups such as the B.A.G, Malta Public Transport and the Malta Road Safety Council in campaigning for greater safety on the roads is gradually working.

“Bikes seem to be getting it right,” Jim Wightman PRO of the Bicycle Advocacy Group said.

The group also uses proactive near miss data to identify significant road hazards and believes that similar awareness campaigns could also work for other two wheelers and vulnerable road user groups, such as the new influx of small capacity motorcycles.